THR Red Shoe is Singing on the Other Side

[Poppet]

Hi Red Shoe, as soon as my incision was closed and dry I massaged pure coconut oil around the incision, but stayed away from the actual cut..

Yes, during recovery we tend to hit these plateaus and feel that we aren't progressing. Our bodies seem to know when the deep healing is happening and then we rest. Don't get too discouraged, give into it and rest. Have you tried heat in your groin, that helped me

 

[flowergirl]

I had to wait 7 weeks to get an OK to sleep on my side and only then with a pillow between my legs. Apparently OS is a stickler about the pillow, started in the hospital and hopefully wont continue for life! The first night I slept on my side it only lasted about an hour, but it felt so good!!! The first night I made it thru the whole night on my side was the worst...I woke up in the morning stiff, hurting, sore, numb. The only thing that didn't have a symptom was the left side of my face, the right foot, and the new hip area!!!! But I went right back to my side the next night and the next morning was much better. I had to rotate my pillows to find a comfortable set since I guess my body position has changed since one hip moves better now.

I have left my scar alone. I told the OS I didn't need a bikini ready scar I just didn't want to look like he had used a chainsaw...The top half of the scar is pretty much just a line and I have a little lumpiness on the very bottom. I have also noticed a bit of pinching in the middle since I have started sleeping on my side. No big problem for me.

Remember 4 weeks down and lifetime to go!!!!!!!

 

[Red Shoe]

Peaches awe thanks ever so much for the encouragement. How lucky we're you to be able to sleep on your side so quickly I saw a physiotherapist today at the hospital, she's sorting out some hydrotherapy for me. She said my thigh muscle was mega tight and she turned me on my side and held my operated leg so it didn't cross over. It felt so strange to be on my side, I was almost sea sick !
LeeApril26 cheers, I will leave rubbing any cream in until my post op check up on the 15 th of this month. I've been told today that I need to keep using two sticks ( canes) for at least six to eight weeks as my legs are weak. Onwards and upwards folks, at least our ops are over

 

[Red Shoe]

Poppet flowergirl I posted reply just and then noticed your kind encouraging words and advice. I've only got two weeks to go before I see my surgeon so will grin and bare sleeping on my side until then. My physio said that some folk have to stay on their backs for over eight weeks, it depends on what the consultant says flowergirl, the time sure seems to have flown since you had your op, I hope my time goes as quick. Much love to you both and all of you on here, what a great support you are xxx

 

[Peaches]

Red Shoe, I definitely had to sleep with a pillow between my legs when I got the okay to sleep on my side; and I could only sleep on the non-operated side till my six-week checkup. My OS is so liberal about precautions, it doesn't always feel liberating. Instead, it feels a little like I'm flying without a net. He said he didn't need to see me and X-ray me again for an entire year, unless I have problems. I have been very nervous about that length of time not being examined, but I have felt confident in his surgical skills. As you know from reading around on BoneSmart, there are huge differences in protocol among these OSs ... and among PTs as well. My PT only mentioned massaging my scar because I asked her if I should be massaging it and if so, with what. She said "some schools of thought" are that the scar should be massaged to avoid some kind of scar tissue pain. She didn't sound like it was a "must." My surgeon's PA and Nurse also didn't seem to think I needed to rub anything on my scar, or have a PT rub my scar. But other OSs and PTs think differently. It gets confusing. I try to go with my gut about some things, but then immediately remind myself that I ain't no SURGEON.You sound like you are in good spirits and are doing well. Like you said, we are on the other side of surgery, which is a big step. Some days it's easy to forget what a huge abyss we have crossed. Take care and keep us posted with how you are doing. Oh, and in case you haven't noticed--or haven't read this elsewhere on BoneSmart--many of us seem to feel we have moved forward in recovery only after, say, a week, or two--rather than after a day or two. So that might also be why you are feeling stuck at four weeks. You will probably find that suddenly you're quite a bit better. Then you'll plateau again. it helps to keep this mind..... The Recovery Elves like to keep us on our toes. And boy, do they succeed.

 

[Red Shoe]

Peaches sorry for my delay in replying, blimey a weeks gone by I was brave and took the bull by the horns and just massaged some cream around the area. I had hydrotherapy yesterday which was wonderful, did the same exercises I'm doing at home apart from in water with a sponge weight around my leg. Everything was going fine until the young male physiotherapist said " right, I would like you to lye on your operated side", this would have involved lying on a small hammock that is attached to the pool. I said " I'm not supposed to do that until my six week check up and I've been given the all clear" he didn't seem to realise that . . . . . . . tut tut!. I've been having a nothing sort of week, neither better or worse I suppose. I'm still walking with two sticks and getting irritated with myself as I think I should be doing more. My first concert is looming and I'm wondering if I will cope with the whole day being at a festival. On the plus side, I've ventured out for a nice meal with my family as we celebrated 25 years of marriage. Hope your well and everyone else on bonesmart, time sure goes quick

 

[Butterfly]

Red Shoe Sorry to be so long in posting. It has been quite hectic trying to get enough help, and so on. I guess I am doing pretty well. Still have pain ((8 days out today) and have felt kinda gloomy today. Did your foot on the op side swell? Mine has all of a sudden decided to swell big time and it scares me. I don't get into bed very easily, and that scares me, too. You know me -- the proverbial worry wort. Did you wear those awful stockings? I am supposed to, but they cut into my calves like mad, and hurt. And I cannot get them on and off by myself, of course. Do you think the fat foot is anything to worry about? Calf is a little swollen, but the hip swelling has gone down. I, too, feel like I've reached a plateau and am stuck A bit silly after 8 days, but I'm still feeling glum about it. I see my OS next week for follow up. Took the big bandage off yesterday, as instructed. The wound is still a little sore and I feel it a lot if I sit a certain way.

I need some of your special words of encouragement!

Love,
Milli

 

[LeeApril26]

@RedShoe Happy Anniversary. Very pleased to read about the hydrotherapy. Just walking in the water will help your gait and strengthen your legs. The further you are from surgery the more you want to be doing everything, but when you overdo it you get zapped, so stay on the sticks and try to rest during the Festival, if you can.
@Butterly Elevate that foot! If it's swelling you need to rest more, ice and elevate. If that doesn't help quickly, check in with your doc or Josephine, but the odds are you are not resting enough. If someone is helping you with the hideous stockings sprinkle baby powder or corn starch on your legs first. Some folks have a plastic bag trick-I guess your foot in a bag??? but I don't know it. REST!

 

[Red Shoe]

Butterfly lovely to hear from you and it sounds as if your doing well considering its only been eight days. I'm still wearing the horrid compression socks, they stressed and stressed upon me how important they are up to six weeks. Ours in the UK are not the heavy white ones, they are more like thick tights. I couldn't get them on by myself so my husband or sister helps me. If you put a plastic bag over your foot first then put the sock over it, roll the sock up over the bag then pull the back out of the opening toe part. Hey presto, it works and the person doing it doesn't get so red in the face. I would double check with the hospital about you not wearing them, I know they are a pain but they are important. My foot used to swell really bad, I was told that if you don't have a drain then the crud and nasty fluid has nowhere to go apart from down your leg. I also had swelling in my groin, still do a bit. Rest up Butterfly, still so early and the time will fly. I can't believe I'm five weeks and see my consultant next week
Josephine blimey, a flick of the wrist and you could dislocate the hip, I must tell my consultant next week a few medical docs and nurses told me they use them knee and ankle to dislocate and some can be stubborn. My knee , shin and foot was black with bruises.
LeeApril26 thank you, we had a really nice anniversary. I've heard from organisers of the festival and they have two men who have offered to carry me on stage. Oh gawd this is sounding more like Spinal Tap

 

[Michelle1976]

@redshoe - it's nice to read how things are going for you! I'm only a few days on the other side, but I'm already expecting too much & have to keep reminding myself what a major op I've just had!
Glad things are going well for you & you were able to celebrate your anniversary
Good luck for the gig, you've got a real goal to be aiming for & I admire your determination x


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[LeeApril26]

@RedShoe. Ah, open toe compression stockings. Who knew? I was given closed toe and have been trying to figure out how the plastic bag trick worked. Good to know for the probable next one.
I. Love the image of you being carried on stage by two strapping guys a la Bette Middler. Perhaps you should wear clamshells????

 

[Poppet]

Hello Red Shoe, looking forward to hearing how your gig went ... I have been thinking of you x

 

[Peaches]

Hello, happy anniversary, and how was your gig, Red Shoe?
Keep in mind PTs are not all-knowing, though they always seem to talk as if they are 100 per cent certain.
They don't seem to consider the SURGERY part. They seem to have a by-the-book attitude about how our condition and the surgery weakens our muscles and impedes our ROM and they seem to have a textbook understanding of the post-op restrictions. But they do not really know all about it the way a surgeon does and they do not seem to consider the healing from major surgery part and how that impacts us. So I would just say don't say 'how high?' everytime they say something, and don't take it as a certainty whenever they say something. Ask your OS. He knows more than a PT by a long shot. Good luck with everything. You sound like you are doing well. I hope your get all questions answered next week from your checkup with the OS. Good luck!

 

[Red Shoe]

Poppet Peaches thanks dear folks, I had hydrotherapy today and I was pushed a little harder with the exercises. I'm still on two sticks, struggle with just one. I see my consultant tomorrow for my post op consultation, in fact I have three hospital appointments tomorrow . My first is with my hip guy, second is a deep tissue massage cause my thigh muscle is so tight and third with my knee consultant who wants to get the hammer and chisel out soon. I shall tell him politely that he can wait. Gig went fantastic but was hard work, played two in one day. One at 2 pm and the second was at 7 pm in the main theatre I will post a picture when I can reduce the size of it, the files too large at the moment xxx

 

[Kim22]

Hi Red Shoe I have just seen the pictures of your gigs on Facebook and I am well impressed that you were able to do 2 in the same day especially as you are only 5 weeks post surgery.Well done ! I hope your appointments go well tomorrow.

 

[Poppet]

Yes good luck with your appointments RS, looking forward to the photos

 

[Butterfly]

Red Shoe I am so glad your gig went well and you survived it. Can't wait to see the pix.

Did you say you are going to see a knee guy? I'm sorry your knee is so bad, I know you mentioned it earlier, but I hoped it would just settle down. Mine has pretty much settled, and (almost afraid to say this out loud) my swelling is almost completely gone.

I also go to see my OS tomorrow for a follow up. OS sees his patients at 2 weeks just to see they are progressing. I guess we will also discuss the one coming up on the 4th, too. Pretty sure he said that most all the pre op stuff I had done will stilll count for the one on the 4th. But I may have to have some bloodwork. That's OK. I just don't want to have to go repeat EKG and chest x-ray, etc. I've had so many x-rays I fear I will soon glow in the dark, and I know they will x-ray again tomorrow. Oh well . . .

Let us know what you find out about the knee. So glad your hip is doing well. Please keep sending good thoughts my way for the second hip in two weeks.

Love,
Milli

 

[Michelle1976]

Glad the gig went well! Sounds exhausting though!
Not so good they might want to do your knee too :-( I guess if it's going to give you better quality of life in the long run though...
Hydrotherapy ?? Is that what you said? Is that exercises in the water? Where was this? Good Hope? I would like that but not sure how to get it?!
Good luck with up coming appointments & I look forward to seeing gig piccies!
Michelle x


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[Butterfly]

Red Shoe What did your docs say today? I got my staples out and my doc says I am doing great. I have to go get some pre-op stuff for this next surgery, and I got some X-rays today for him to decide exactly what to use, etc. He said this next one may be a little more difficult than the other one because there is more damage, and I may have restricted weight bearing for a while, but it will be OK in the end. It didn't hurt getting the staples out -- they just use some kind of gadget to just pop 'em right out of there.

I walked with my walker too much today at the hospital and I am paying for it tonight, but on the op side it seems to be just muscle stuff. So far my knee is doing pretty good, and will be better when I get the leg muscles a bit stronger and not so tight. I also have that leg length issue, which the OS says he hopes he can even up on the next surgery.

 

[Red Shoe]

Hi folks, sorry for the delay and thanks for all your good wishes. I've had my three appointments and was shown my X-ray of my new hip by my hip consultant and again by my knee consultant they were both grinning at how fine it looked. My knee has to be left to settle down for a few months before they address problem, apparently it is common for the knee to get a whack. I was told I could start sleeping on my operated side but after trying it was too painful. I suppose I just have to let my body tell me when it's time.
Michelle1976 we have a hydro pool at the ROH so get yourself referred, it's fantastic and I've been doing all sorts in the pool
Kim22 thank you, I'm trying to make the photos small so I can post one on here, I was worn out after the festival but so chuffed I did it.
Butterfly, sounds as if your doing amazing dear chum, just think a couple of weeks ago you were dreading the op and now your on the mend. How are the pooches with you ? My three cats won't leave me alone and sleep by me all night, much to the dislike of my hubby Did you have your hip done the anterior way? My consultant who worked in Australia for awhile is trying to convince my hospital that this is the way forward but he's having a problem. I may go and see the manager of the hospital and see if I can help. I had mine done through the posterior way and the recovery is longer.
Hope all of you on here are having a good week and I will try and catch up with all your posts soon. Much love from middle England where the sun is shinning and the leaves are a golden carpet xxx